Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
Luke 18:15–17
Jesus gives a two-fold rationale command to bring the children to Him:
First, children are members of the kingdom already. "Of such is the kingdom" means that the kingdom is comprised of such as these children.
Second, everyone in the kingdom of God must receive it as a little child. This applies to children and adults, both. Those who have the first birth must have the second in order to see the kingdom (cf. Jn3:3–8). So, "kingdom" is being used with reference to the visible church in v16, and the invisible/elect/eternal church in v17.
One of the reasons that Jesus insists that children are members of His church, and be brought to Him in all of the privileges of that membership (i.e. the means of grace!), is so that they can learn to receive the kingdom as little children. And one of the reasons that Jesus brings adults into the visible church is so that they can learn to receive the kingdom as little children.
So, dear reader, how have you received the kingdom as a little child? Or, haven't you? God grant unto us all to be true children.
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